Tristan Walking

Tristan started to walk! We are so proud of him! This video is the early stages of walking, since then he takes steps with both feet and not just his left. He's a walking machine now :o)









Sorry it's sideways!

5 Years of Pure Happiness

May 22, 2004 Matthew and I got married and I couldn't have made a better choice in my life.

For those of you who don't know my story, I guess I will tell you here how we met...

Matt and I met on line and both of us had a few experiences of meeting people on line that turned out to be complete duds! Matt vowed to never go on line again to date, and I was still curious.
Well, one day Matt had a very strong impression that he needed to go on LDS Mingle again. He was very confused, but he did as he was prompted. It was a day later that I saw his profile and gave him a "wink" ;o) That day we chatted on line and we agreed to call each other and talk to see how it turned out. Well, he called me and the moment he called I got this feeling that it was all going to work out.
We talked for a long time, but I soon had to go to work. I couldn't stop thinking about him all day at work. I called him the next day and that's where we knew that we were going to get married and there was nothing no body could do to stop us.
A few days into talking I was praying to the Lord asking if I needed to go on a mission or stay home and marry this man, and as soon as I said that, Matt called. talk about freaky!
Well, a month after talking on the phone we agreed that we needed to meet, so he flew out to Massachusetts. Days later, he proposed to me at the Boston Temple and a week or two later we drove out to Missouri so I could meet his family.
We were planning our wedding out so that we would get married in the Boston Temple, but we were...let's say, making out more then we should have and things got to the point where if we didn't get married we would have messed up (we didn't, although some family might have thought we did...we NEVER messed up). So we decided that getting married right then and there was the best choice for us. We prayed and fasted and we both got the impression that it was the best choice for us at that time. Well, we made the choice May 19th and got married May 22nd.

Lately I have been really kicking myself in the butt for not waiting and getting married in the Temple right away. We were faithful members of the church who didn't get married in the Temple and I felt guilty and still feel guilty for not doing so. Matt keeps telling me that it's in the past and that we are sealed and that's all that matters, but it's so more then that. Men don't understand the whole wedding process....the dress, the ring, the hair, the flowers, the bride's maids....etc. I think I'm bitter about that whole process then anything else. It's just an irrational thought process that I need to get over.

Over all, I'm so thankful to have such an amazing husband and father to my children! I couldn't have asked for a better man. He completely completes me :o) He's my best friend, my lover, and most importantly, my Eternal Companion :o)

Note: How did I manage to get a wedding dress in such a short amount of time? I called up a bunch of people who sold wedding dresses and I called this one lady who sold them from her home and told her of my situation and she was very willing to let me try them on. I tried on so many dresses and none of them fit me perfectly...they were all too small or too big :o( The one I wore to my wedding was a bit big but it worked....I wish it was prettier....but beggars can't be choosers! :o)

Graduate of '09

Ok, so this is a bad picture of Matt, but it's the only one I got after he told me before the ceremony that we would have to take picutes after the ceremony. Well, the time came and he only wanted one picture taken!!

Anyway, Graduation turned out wonderfully. Al Roker came to give the Address to all the Graduates, and after they had amazing fireworks :o) It was windy beyond belief, but that's Oklahoma for you.

Congrats Matthew!! I love you and am so proud of what you have accomplished, and soon to accomplish more!

ASU

Well, it's official! Matt got accepted into Arizona State University!

We were planning on going to Arizona no matter what, but this news topped the cake :o) We are so excited to get out there and see some old friends and meet some new friends!! Woo Hoo for ASU!

The Fair

So today we got all ready for church and we were out the door heading to church when Matthew, my wonderful husband forgot that today he had to go to this thing where his piano students were showing off their talents. Well, we got there and found out it was a FAIR! So here we are arriving to this fair with Sunday dress, and there is a place to pet farm animals and a moon bounce and tons of more fun stuff!! All the food was free which was great cause we were starving! We even got a picture done old style of our whole family!! We have never had pictures taken of our family before. Granted it took an hour to wait in line, we still did it!
My face looks like it's different colors because Brooke at the very last min. of waiting in line decided she had to pee...and I mean PEE! The porta-potty's were ALLLL the way across the field to where we were, so my face was RED!! And MAN...do photo's put 100 lbs. on you or what? I look at myself in the mirror and put my makeup on and see this pretty woman and then I get my picture taken and I see a COW!!!!!!! I really need to put this working out routine into full gear!
We had fun today, that's for sure.

Some new Pictures.

I just can't believe how big my kids have gotten. Tristan will be a year come July 13th (2 days before my birthday).
We are moving to Arizona, it's official :o) Matt will be going to ASU to pursue his Masters in Music. We will be living in either Mesa, South Tempe or Gilbert. I can't wait to take on this big adventure. It will be the best adventure thus far. Why? Because Matthew will be pursuing his Masters!! He's come a long way and I'm so happy for him. It's a big deal to get his Bachelors let alone his Masters, then from his Masters he will be getting his Doctorate :o) So we will be in Arizona for about 7 years. So, to all my family who are tired of me moving....this will be it for a long time to come.

Updates are in order...

Sorry I don't have any pictures to post :o( I sold my camera on e-bay :o( But it was a camera I didn't want anymore, so it's all good. I will though get another camera. Any suggestions? All are welcome! (except Nikon's...I can't afford those) haha.

So I little update on how we are all doing :o)

Matt: He is a month away from Graduating College!!!! I'm SO happy for him. He told me that he may just cry when he graduates. It's been such a long long long road! It will be a relief once he graduates! Then we will see from there if he will teach High School. He then wants to go to get his Masters in Arizona! So we might move to AZ. At first I thought..NO!!!!!!! Then after a while, it became a great idea! He holds the Priesthood in this home and he said he felt the spirit when he prays about the move...so I trust him AND the Lord.

Me: I'm on this baking cake kick. I am decorating a cake today for Jesus' Birthday. I've already made the cake and now I just have to decorate it. I think it will turn out great. I majored in Art for 2 years and it's so much fun to go back to my artsy side. I hope this is a hit! Matt's business bought all the supplies and I hope I make him proud! (Wish me luck)

Gabriel: He's progressing SO much! He's just recently learned how to tell time!!! Granted, it's not a clock with hands. It's a digital clock. Yesterday he came up to me and said "Mommy, it's 8:13" and sure enough it was 8:13. He told us the time for about 2 hours...then we had enough and told him that Conference was on and we needed to listen to the Prophets words...he stopped :o) He's talking SO much lately! We can't shut him up. I once thought he would never talk! Then I talked to my brother about it and he said his youngest had the same problem, then one day he just talked and talked and then he just wouldn't stop! I'm happy that Gabriel doesn't stop talking. He's so social and tells everyone he meets what his life is like, although I don't think strangers enjoy that very much! haha

Brooke: She just amazes us with how much she talks already and she's only 2 1/2. I'd say she's up there with Gabriel in talking. She's such a big helper! When Matt comes home from school and takes his shoes off she takes his shoes and puts them straight in the hall closet! She gives me diapers when she knows I'm about to change Tristan's bum. She's my little singer!!! She sings anything. Yesterday she was sitting on the potty and she was done and sang "I need to get my butt wiped...I went poo poo and pee pee..." She just cracks us up! She's a crazy girl and I wouldn't have it any other way :o)

Tristan: He's crawling like a mad man! I thought he would NEVER crawl! We were teaching and showing him how to crawl and all he did was just scoot on his back if he wanted to get somewhere. Then one day, he started crawling!! I was in awe! My other 2 kids didn't get it that fast. He's now to the point where he wants to stand on his own, he grunts and throws a fit when he can't stand! He's one determined little boy! It's so funny because I remember when I was in my last trimester with him and whenever Matthew would put his hand on my belly Tristan would kick it off!! I don't know how the connects one with another, but it's just funny that he's one feisty and determined little man! He has one tooth and another one coming in next to it on the bottom :o) He's growing up too fast, it feels like yesterday I gave birth to him :o( They all grow so fast!

Well, that's an update on life. I'll definitely update this when we know 100% if we will move to AZ. I'm excited to know because I'm tired of this Oklahoma weather, it's so up and down! AZ is HOT...but it's consistently hot!!